Clocking the Heart

 

Clocking the Heart: 

A tale of two choices

As the clock struck midnight, transforming an ordinary Friday into a magical Saturday night, It was a Saturday night, and the university halls were buzzing with excitement. The students were out in full force, dressed in their finest clothes. Samuel was one of the crowd, but he wasn't just another wandering soul. He had been alone for a while, and he was feeling the pressure to find a mate. Everyone around him seemed to be in a relationship, and he was starting to feel left out from his friends. As he walked through the crowded common halls, he saw a sign that caught his eye. It read: "Find Your Perfect Match at The University Dating Solarium." There were several other students waiting there, looking just as nervous as he was. Edward, his best friend, cheered him on to enter the hall and go sign up as he could never know if he didn’t try. Edward always had ideas that scared Samuel, but Samuel felt the recklessness in his body reaching his mind and decided to go with it.  A woman in a lab coat approached him. "Welcome to the University Dating Center," she said. "My name is Dr. Wells. Please fill out this questionnaire so that we can match you with your perfect mate." Samuel took the questionnaire and started filling it out. It asked all sorts of personal questions, from his favorite color to his political views. He felt uncomfortable answering some of them, but he did it anyway. Once he was finished, Dr. Smith took the questionnaire from him and disappeared. Samuel waited nervously, wondering what would happen next. A few minutes later, Dr. Smith returned with a sheet of paper. "Congratulations," she said.

"We have found your perfect match. Her name is Nicole." Samuel was shocked, as Edward was excited. He had always wanted to meet someone named Nicole. But he was also skeptical. How could a simple questionnaire find him the perfect mate? Dr. Smith handed him a slip of paper with Nicole's information on it. It included her name, phone number, and a brief description of her interests. Samuel thanked her and left the center, feeling anxious while Edward seemed extremely joyful. The next day, he called Nicole. She sounded nice on the phone, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being set up for downfall. He suggested they meet for coffee the following day, and she agreed. The next day, Samuel arrived at the coffee shop early, feeling nervous. He looked around for Nicole, but he didn't see anyone who matched her description. Just as he was about to leave, a woman approached him. "David?" she said. He looked at her, unsure of what to say. She didn't look like the picture on the slip of paper. "I'm Nicole," she said, smiling. Samuel was taken aback. She didn't match his idea of the perfect mate at all. She was overweight and had a crooked smile. But he decided to give the date a chance. They sat down and ordered coffee. Nicole started talking, and Samuel quickly realized that they had nothing in common in the range of interests or hobbies. She liked reality TV shows and country music, two things he couldn't stand. He tried to steer the conversation to more neutral topics, but it was no use. As they finished their coffee, Samuel knew that he would never see Nicole again. She was nice enough, but they were just too different people with different personalities. He felt disappointed, but also relieved. He realized that he didn't need a perfect mate to be happy. He just needed someone who he could connect with on a deeper level. As he walked home, he thought about the University Dating Center. It was a clever idea, but it was ultimately flawed. You couldn't quantify love, no matter how hard you tried. You couldn't predict or control. 

He also realized that these methods were often shallow and superficial. They relied on surface-level information like appearance and interests, rather than deeper qualities like personality and values. As he walked, he saw a couple holding hands and laughing together. They looked happy and carefree, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Edward reminded him that he didn't need to rush into a relationship just because everyone else seemed to be in one. He could take his time, and wait for the right person to come along.He arrived back at his dorm room and flopped onto his bed. He picked up his phone and opened up Tinder, Bumble, Fumble and Hinge but then quickly closed them all again. He wanted something real, something that would last. He wanted raw intimacy where you could sense the mutual admiration and emotion in the words of the sentences said against each other. He thought about Nicole, and how different she was from him. But then he remembered that the things that made them different were also what made them interesting. In his mind, he realized how two people with different beliefs, opinions, and experiences should engage in a conversation, they can actually learn from each other and gain a deeper understanding of their own beliefs and values. 

By recognizing and exploring the differences between themselves and others, they can discover the commonalities that underlie their individual experiences. Furthermore, Edward suggested that the beauty of questioning and dialogue is that individuals can come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. It was those differences that could lead to a deeper connection, if given a chance. He resolved to try again, but this time without the pressure of finding the perfect match. He was in college, and he had his whole life ahead of him. As he drifted off to sleep, Samuel smiled to himself, feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time. He knew that finding love wasn't easy, but he was willing to try. And who knows? Maybe he would find his own imperfect, but perfect, match.